Retailers brand Defra bag reduction proposals “unachievable”

The plans were put forward by Defra minister Ben Bradshaw in a meeting with retailers earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story).

” We're not in the business of signing up to something retailers know they can't achieve. “
– Nigel Smith, BRC
But speaking to letsrecycle.com on Friday, the British Retail Consortium claimed that initial proposals put forward were “unachievable.”

The BRC said suggested targets put forward by the minister including reducing bag waste by 5-20% through in-store initiatives would not suit all retailers. The organisation suggested schemes would need the backing of a powerful government campaign, similar to WRAP's “Recycle Now” activities.

Message
Nigel Smith, BRC corporate social responsibility manager, said: “We were keen to see a government-supported campaign to give out a consistent message and help change customer attitudes. It shouldn't just be down to retailers.”

He added: “We're not in the business of signing up to something retailers know they can't achieve. It's more constructive to shape something possible where one size won't fit all.”

Mr Smith explained that it was as much in the interest of retailers as the government to reduce the number of disposable shopping bags given out.

“Bags given away are a big cost to retailers, so we would be definitely in favour of a different code,” he said.

Realistic
During the London meeting, the BRC did agree to work with the government to come up with a “more realistic” code of practice.

Mr Smith said: “It was a good meeting – it helped to educate the minister and other officials to the diversity of the retail sector.”

However, environment ministers Ben Bradshaw and Ross Finnie described the changes needed to their proposals as mere “detail”.

They said: “We are looking at the retailers to sign up to an ambitious but realistic agreement. They have agreed to work urgently with the government's Waste and Resources Action Programme over the next two weeks on details.”

Tax
Although a private member's bill is attempting to introduce a plastic bag levy to Scotland, such a measure has not gained the support of government. Mr Bradshaw has repeatedly stated that in his view, the case for a tax on plastic bags has not been demonstrated “conclusively”.

The carrier bag industry has been campaigning against a move to clamp down on carrier bags through the Carrier Bag Consortium. Bag manufacturers claim their bags only make up a small fraction of litter, and that the use of reusable so-called “bags for life” are only environmentally friendly when re-used more than four times by shoppers.

James Lee, managing director of Leeds-based bagmaker Cromwell Polythene, said: “In practice, people may not re-use the bags as often as the name suggests and if they do not, the benefit to the environment is negated by the extra material used in production and the resulting pollution and emissions through distribution.”

Cromwell Polythene, which makes 80% of its products from 97% recycled polythene, ran a survey of waste professionals this summer, which it said suggested many of those dealing with waste issues have a “misguided” picture of the impact of different forms of shopping bag.